“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Believers form a spiritual family. Within that family, we have the responsibility to look out for one another. Especially for those who miss the warmth and safety of a natural family, the church aims to be a home.
Being a family also means sharing in each other’s lives: “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Believers help each other wherever necessary. One person might receive financial aid, another looks for a shoulder to cry on, and a third needs support with specific temptations or weaknesses. We encourage one another to faithfully gather around God’s Word and to do what is good. We also work together to provide faith education for children and new believers. There are countless tasks that we carry together; by sharing the burdens, they become lighter for those who are struggling.
Paul sees this “suffering with” and “bearing with” one another as a fulfillment of the law of Christ. Earlier in this series, we already read what that law entails: loving one another as Christ has loved us. That love takes concrete shape through mutual support and encouragement.
In which areas of your life do you feel a need for support from fellow believers? In what ways can you, in turn, help others?